Svetlana Herr elected president and Cynthia Osman elected vice president of Milwaukee Youth Council

MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Youth Council elected Member Svetlana Herr as president and Member Cynthia Osman as vice president during its inaugural session on Oct. 22, 2025, the council’s acting chair, City Clerk Jim Ozarski, said at the meeting.

The council followed a procedure modeled on the Milwaukee Common Council: the chair called nominations for president, accepted statements from nominees and then called members in order for roll‑call votes. Nominees for president were Member Svetlana Herr, Member Cynthia Osman and Member Thaddeus Hillard. The chair announced that Herr was "unanimously elected" to serve as president and that she will assume the chair at the council’s next meeting.

In her brief campaign statement, Member Svetlana Herr told colleagues, "If you guys vote for me, I will make sure that we are more involved within the community," promising increased youth presence and fundraising support for local nonprofits.

The vice‑president race required more than one ballot. After nominations, the council recorded an initial tally that did not produce the required majority (the chair noted candidates needed eight votes). The final roll call produced nine votes for Member Cynthia Osman; the chair then announced Osman the winner. Osman, in remarks to the council, said she was a sophomore and that serving as vice president would allow her to "make a difference with my voice" and support consistent participation.

Why it matters: the president and vice president are required by the council bylaws to work with council members to select an executive committee that will provide ongoing guidance for the body. The chair reminded members of a recently distributed, revised set of bylaws before nominations began.

Process and turnout

City Clerk Jim Ozarski, acting as chair until officers were elected, opened nominations and called members’ names in order for their recorded votes. Multiple members delivered short statements after nomination; several candidates emphasized inclusion and representation of Milwaukee youth. The session included roll‑call votes for both offices and a brief exchange of statements by nominees.

Formal action

- President: Nominees — Svetlana Herr, Cynthia Osman, Thaddeus Hillard. Outcome — Herr elected (chair announced unanimous election). No formal motion text beyond nomination and roll call was recorded.

- Vice president: Nominees — Cynthia Osman, Thaddeus Hillard. Outcome — Osman elected after recorded roll call with nine votes in her favor; the chair stated a majority threshold of eight votes was required.

Next steps

The chair said the newly elected president will assume the meeting chair at the council’s next convening. The bylaws distributed to members require the president and vice president to collaborate with members on naming an executive committee and to guide future council business.

Ending

With officers chosen and no further business, the acting chair declared the meeting adjourned.